Oilers 3 - 4 Avalanche
Final - OT
  for this game

Avalanche host Oilers in Foote's final game

Apr 10, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche will be rivals for an event that could shape their respective futures: The drawing to determine the order of the NHL Draft.

First, the two disappointing clubs will close out their 2010-11 season with an afternoon meeting at the Pepsi Center that will serve as Avs defenseman Adam Foote's farewell contest.

The Oilers are guaranteed to finish with the fewest points in the NHL for a second straight season, amassing 61 so far through 81 games, and will have a 25-percent chance at pulling the first overall pick in the 2011 draft during Tuesday's weighted drawing. The Avalanche sit 29th out of the 30 teams with 66 points and have an 18.8-percent chance at being awarded the top pick.

Edmonton used the first selection of the 2010 draft to take forward Taylor Hall, who had 22 goals and 20 points in 65 games before his season ended early due to a high left ankle sprain.

Without their young star, the Oilers lost their second straight and for the 13th time in their last 15 games with Friday's 3-1 setback to the Wild. Teemu Hartikainen had the lone goal and Devan Dubnyk made 24 saves for Edmonton, which was swept in its six-game season series with Minnesota.

"We wanted to end our home play on a bang and it didn't work out for us," said Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle. "Especially against these guys cause they had our number all year."

Edmonton has lost eight of its last nine on the road and is 12-23-5 as the guest this season.

Colorado will look to halt a four-game slide this afternoon and fell to 4-26-2 in its past 32 games with Friday's 3-2 setback to Dallas. Brandon Yip had both goals and Peter Budaj made 25 saves.

"Once you get behind the eight ball it's tough to come back," Yip said.

Friday's loss means that the franchise will ended with its lowest single- season point total since relocating from Quebec to Colorado in 1995-96.

The setback also came just hours after Foote announced he will retire at the end of the season. The 39-year-old defenseman spent 17 of his 19 seasons with the Colorado franchise and won Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001. He has been limited to just 46 games this year due to injury and hasn't played since March 16 due to a leg ailment, but hopes to suit up today.

"Like every boy's dream growing up in Canada, my goal was to play one game in the National Hockey League," Foote said in announcing his pending retirement on Friday. "After 20 years and over 1,000 games, I feel fortunate to be a part of this great game for so long."

The Avs' captain was one of 11 players to miss Friday's game, extending the Avalanche's club record of total man games lost this season to 464.

Colorado has lost 12 of its last 13 at home, where it is 15-21-4 this season.

Edmonton is 3-0-2 versus Colorado this season, winning both meetings so far at the Pepsi Center to give the club five victories in its last seven trips to Denver.






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